Las Vegas — It was Thon time Friday as the Milwaukee Bucks provided an exciting opening game to the NBA's annual summer show in the desert.

Thon Maker, a 7-foot-1 forward, took his first NBA steps in the Bucks' 81-75 summer league victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Even if he had stumbled around in his debut, Bucks officials would have been confident they made the right choice with the No. 10 overall pick in the June draft.

But Maker did not stumble, instead making key plays at the end of the game and showing the athleticism and awareness that stood out when the Bucks scouted him over the past few years.

Bucks vice president of player personnel Dave Babcock sat courtside with assistant general manager Justin Zanik, while general manager John Hammond and coach Jason Kidd were a few rows behind them in the Cox Pavilion stands.

Babcock said Maker struggled in the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit but had made great progress by the all-star break in February this year, when Babcock went to Toronto to scout him for three days.

"His upper body got stronger and he's defining his game more," Babcock said. "Before he was a little raw. He could run and he could make a shot, but he really didn't know how to play.

"But he's starting to get it. We took Giannis (Antetokounmpo) two years ago. You're projecting what you think a guy is going to be. We think he's going to be a really good player."

The Bucks selected the 6-11 Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in 2013 and he has developed his skills in three years, emerging as one of the top young stars in the league.

"He (Maker) is a different kind of player, but in some ways (they are comparable)," Babcock said. "His body needs to develop. But he is a great kid; he's a hard worker like Giannis. That's what makes you feel good about him."

Maker scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while playing 31 minutes against the Cavaliers, but he wasn't satisfied.

"Offensively it didn't feel that good," Maker said. "I felt I rushed it too much. But defensively it was where we wanted it. Communication-wise, we fixed it down at the end. Early on, we messed up on a few of the rotations.

"I'm never nervous. But I was going as fast as practice. (Thursday) we had practice and I was going that fast. I just needed to slow it down.

"I thought the game was going to be harder than practice. It was the other way around. Now I have to find a way to find my rhythm."

Maker was 5 of 14 from the field, including 0 of 4 on three-point attempts, but he made 5 of 7 free throws.

His block on a driving layup attempt by Cavaliers point guard Kay Felder, with the Bucks clinging to a three-point lead with about 1 minute left, was the play of the game.

"With that block, I was communicating with our coach (Sean Sweeney) on the sideline," Maker said. "I was guarding a shooter. So I asked him whether I should stay or go out. He said stay to protect the rim. I came back and got the block on Felder."

Maker is listed as 19 years old and the South Sudan native has said that is his correct age, despite reports he could be a few years older.

Babcock said the age issue was not something Bucks officials were worried about in making their pick.

Being a top-10 pick brings some pressure to perform on the Vegas stage, but Maker said that's no problem for him.

"I thought Thon was terrific today," said rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon. "I thought he was active on the glass and active on the defensive end, which is most important. His skill set is pretty versatile."

Scrimmage set: The Bucks do not have a game scheduled Saturday but will scrimmage against the Toronto Raptors summer league squad.

Then Milwaukee will play the D-League select team Sunday (3:30 p.m. Central) and Memphis on Monday (3 p.m.) as it resumes first-round play.

Vaughn played Friday despite a cut in his right index finger that required four stitches earlier in the week. He was 4 for 16, including 1 of 8 from three-point range.

"I don't want to give any excuses; I'm just trying to play through it," Vaughn said. "Make or miss, I'm just going to keep trying to play and keep trying to win."